By Brianna Brinker, Arts & Culture Editor
The Pogues went on one last treasure hunt together in the season five finale of a Netflix Original series, Outer Banks. The last ten episodes were released on Aug. 20.
Outer Banks’ first season came out in April of 2020; it quickly became the show of the summer. The COVID-19 pandemic had just started, so the world was on lockdown.
Outer Banks gave the world comedic relief, summer vibes, and a chaotic adventure to watch during a difficult time in the world. We could live vicariously through these fun characters on our screens.
The characters were an exciting group of friends who had nothing but one another. They were known as “The Pogues.” It takes place with the main character, John Booker Routledge (John B) wanting to find the Royal Merchant Gold just like his dad, who died going after it. Routledge and his best friends go after the gold and face the hardest trials while attempting to find it.
Throughout the series, we see realistic situations that the characters face, such as family issues, abuse, relationship struggles, and grief.
For example, Routledge lost his dad and best friend, JJ lived in an abusive household, Kiara was sent off to a behavior camp by her parents, Sarah faced homelessness and teen pregnancy, and Pope faced trauma and guilt. These are all things that real people deal with in everyday life.
We watched the characters grow up from sixteen to twenty years old, and some of us grew up with them.
Generation Z was primarily teenagers during the lockdown. Now, many of them are in their twenties and have made a connection with the show. We fell in love with the characters, the plot, the humor, and the adventure of it all.
“It feels crazy that it is over for good because it has been on Netflix for six years,” said Isabella Polanco, a graduate student of criminal justice legal studies.
In 2020, Outer Banks started a beach fashion trend, dressing in bandanas, seashell necklaces, tropical tops, and denim. Everyone looked like they were about to surf the waves with the Pogues.
When they had their highs and celebrations, we celebrated with them, and, when they hit rock bottom, we had sorrow for them. It felt like we were on their treasure hunts with them.
Outer Banks Season Five is a fast-paced journey for John B, Sarah, Kirara, Pope, Rafe, and Cleo as they try to find The Blue Crown, an ancient artifact that is worth millions of dollars. The Blue Crown is known to have powers to bring back the dead. In the previous season, their best friend was murdered. So, the Pogues are tempted with testing the crowns’ ability for their best friend, JJ Maybank.
But they are not the only ones who want that crown—they face danger from other characters who are also on the search for the crown. This season is action-packed with running from criminals, getting shot at, explosions, and fighting off the “bad guys.”
We see the characters go through grief and anger as they mourn their best friend, but we also see character growth, exciting wins, and a happy ending for everyone. The ending is a full circle moment.
“My favorite part of the show was the ending because I am happy that John B and Sarah got to live in peace with little JJ,” said Polanco.
Outer Banks is a comfort show that offered an escape from the pandemic. Following Routledge and his friends live their beach life by going on boat rides, chasing treasure, and surfing the biggest waves was fun and exciting to be a part of. The fans will miss the improvised lines, the famous one-liners, and the characters who made the show what it is today.
Pogues For Life, P4L.
